Weblogs

December 31, 2006

Anniversaries. Blink and you miss ‘em. There was such a hullabaloo about the whole C86 shtick in 2006 that I forgot my own anniversary. Yes, Tangents was ten years old this year, and I didn’t even notice. It was only this afternoon whilst preparing things for 2007 (look out for John Carney’s enviously marvellous Shivers Inside series) that I happened to glance at the earliest articles and spotted the 1996 tag lines. Now I had actually thought that whilst the first paper issue of Tangents appeared in ’96, the first Internet version didn’t actually pop up (on the old Zynet server) until 1997. But no, this article, penned in October ’96 would seem to prove my memory wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time.

Reading it back now, I feel some words of apology are needed to people like Bob Stanley, Matt and Clair of Sarah records, Everett and Stephen Pastel. I guess I was just feeling exceptionally grumpy that day. Reading it back too I’m struck by how there was still the need to be a kind of apologist / evangelist for the Web back in those days. It’s inconceivable now of course. How times change. I remember too how later in 1997 C and I put together a fledgling ‘alt.Exeter’ website. We even got a photo in the Express and Echo; me sitting at my 15” monitor with Scully on my lap. On the back of that we approached lots of local businesses asking them if they wanted websites built for them, and presence on the ‘alt.Exeter’ site. To say they laughed in our faces would be polite. I seem to recall they suggested that something like the Internet wasn’t really for them… As I say, it’s funny how things change. Needless to say that by the time all those businesses decided that ooops, perhaps the Internet was something they needed to think about after all, we couldn’t be arsed with it and let someone else make the money. Well, I say ‘let’… we didn’t really have a choice, did we? Never having been business-minded and all that.

I swear a business manager would have a fit if they talked to me about Tangents, and Unpopular and blah blah blah. Which rather pleases me, but that’s another story.

To get back to this one, it’s a shame I forgot about the ten-year thing because I always rather thought I would celebrate it with a gig or something, perhaps much like the Fortuna Pop festival earlier this year. See, Sean and his gang didn’t forget their tenth birthday… But whatever. I’d just like to wish Tangents a belated happy tenth birthday. Have a bar of chocolate and a cup of tea to celebrate. Kick back. Be proud.

December 30, 2006

I made up my first reviews mix of the year today. After being fed up with not having any really great new records to listen to, I actually sat down and listened properly to a bunch, and there are some great moments on there. Particularly enjoyed the Decoration album. More on that when I get around to doing the reviews now doubt.

I also re-arranged the Geek Lair the last couple of days. Just moved a few things around in a desperate attempt to kick myself into a state of more activity. It usually helps. Plus I realised I hadn’t taken any photos for ages, so I took a bunch around the room… See them all on Flickr

Oh, here’s the tracklist for the mix. Expect a zip of the whole mix soontime.